"I got up at 9 o'clock," he said. "I went downstairs. He (Mr Marsh) was drunk as a c**t, pardon my French, on the settee. I said give us a can. He said, 'f*** off', so I went upstairs.

"I picked up a knife. I went back downstairs with it, to threaten him. I put the knife on the chair arm and he got up."

'No intention of stabbing him'

It was at this point, according to Mr Cadamartriea's version of events, that Mr Marsh was stabbed in the right side of his neck.

DC Grantham asked Mr Cadamartriea to clarify exactly what his intention had been.

"Just to frighten him," said Mr Cadamartriea. "I had no intention of stabbing him."

KILLER: Colin Cadamartriea

Mr Cadamartriea said Mr Marsh had been sprawled on a sofa, with a can in his hand, at the time. Another housemate, Malcolm Stork, also known as Larry, was sitting nearby on a second sofa, Mr Cadamartriea told the detective.

DC Grantham asked if Mr Marsh had been awake or asleep.

"He was half and half," said Mr Cadamartriea. "As I said, he just got up. He jumped up and the knife went into his neck."

'He just came up and the knife went in'

Mr Cadamartriea was asked by the detective to describe his position.

"I was bent over him," said the accused. "I had the handle (of the knife) in my hand. I did not expect him to get up. He just came up and the knife went in."

On the Thursday, Mr Cadamartriea claimed to have discovered Mr Marsh had stolen his benefits money. The next day, it is alleged Mr Marsh had stolen a can belonging to Cadamartriea, which he admitted angered him.

"Jarrad is a bully," he began the first of two interviews. "He bullies the whole house. He has been banned from every pub in the Beverley Road area."